Craig Mack: Rapper and P Diddy protege dies aged 46

The hip-hop star rose to fame in 1994 with the hit single Flava In Ya Ear, and was the first artist to release an album on P Diddy’s Bad Boy Records.

After splitting with Diddy, he released a second album, Operation: Get Down, but eventually left music and devoted his life to religion.

LL Cool J, Funkmaster Flex, Biz Markie and DJ Scratch were among those paying tribute to the star.

“I just got a disturbing phone call. I cannot believe this dude is gone,” said Scratch on Instagram.

“He just reached out a couple of weeks ago for me to speak on his documentary about his life.

“Craig was my roadie on tour. He would set up & break down my turntables every night… Rest In Peace Lil Bro.”

“Rest in power Craig,” tweeted LL Cool J. “It was a pleasure to know you & rock with you. You stepped away from the game & did it your way. I always respected that.”

According to the New York Daily News, Mack died of heart failure in hospital near his home in South Carolina on Monday.

Hailing from Brentwood, Long Island, he cut his first single while still a teenager, under the name MC EZ.

After it failed to make an impact, he worked as an assistant to local hip-hop heroes EPMD. They introduced him to Sean “Puffy” Combs – now known as P Diddy – who put him on a remix of Mary J Blige’s You Don’t Have To Worry in 1992.

Impressed with his contribution, Combs offered him a recording contract and released Mack’s laid-back debut album, Project: Funk da World, in 1994.

The success of the album was propelled by Flava In Ya Ear – especially the remix, which featured verses from Notorious BIG, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes.

The single was certified platinum and nominated for a Grammy the following year, while the follow-up single, Get Down, went gold.